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| Thread ID: 96879 | 2009-01-27 05:12:00 | House wiring and power outlets | Jen (38) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 742393 | 2009-01-27 05:12:00 | Hi all, Is it possible to create a new power outlet from the same wiring used by lights/light switches or do they use specific wiring? Obviously the actual rewiring would be done by an electrician. :thanks |
Jen (38) | ||
| 742394 | 2009-01-27 05:32:00 | No, you can't use lighting circuits for power, the cabling is lighter and will not take the load. Lighting is typically wired in 1.5mm cable and power is 2.5mm. Older houses may have 1mm for lighting, reflecting the early "one bulb in the centre of each room" philosophy and power cable can be 2mm. Get an electrician to quote for your requirements Jen, your or your landlord's insurance may be voided if changes are not wired properly. Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 742395 | 2009-01-27 05:43:00 | Thanks Billy. I suspected that would be the case. I was asking on behalf of my folks. I want to get them a cordless phone, only there are no power outlets in any of the walls surrounding the telephone jack (due to a quirky architecture design), and they only have the one telephone jack in the house. Looks like a more major wiring job is required. |
Jen (38) | ||
| 742396 | 2009-01-27 05:51:00 | Billy T may disagree, and If so I will bow to his knowledge but couldn't a permanent connection unit be used for the phone base set, connected to the lighting phase? If not, please quote the rule in the ER's or AS/NZS 3000 that would prevent it? (assuming it's not somewhere silly like over the bath etc) |
godfather (25) | ||
| 742397 | 2009-01-27 05:55:00 | It would be easier to install a phone jack near the power outlet, you could do it yourself. | Safari (3993) | ||
| 742398 | 2009-01-27 07:32:00 | Billy T may disagree, and If so I will bow to his knowledge but couldn't a permanent connection unit be used for the phone base set, connected to the lighting phase? If not, please quote the rule in the ER's or AS/NZS 3000 that would prevent it? (assuming it's not somewhere silly like over the bath etc) You have a good point there. It is legal to connect an exhaust fan to the lighting circuit because the fan load is small & constant. Toilet fan, for instance. So what is wrong with connecting a phone base unit? Yes, connect with a permanenc connect unit & not a power point. Many years ago when I was a self emplyed electrician, I have a argument with the Auckland Power Board. The customer wanted a utility room in the basement. Washing M/c, drier, stainless tub. The usual. But also a shower & a toilet. Suddenly this was a bathroom & Bathroom Regs applied. No p/p in the bathroom, unprotected. This was before ELCB protection. So the washing m/c & the drier were Permanently Connected. The metal cabinets of the m/c & the drier were not the problem. The regs were against the p/ps in a bathroom. I put this here just to demonstrate the vagaries of regulations. So Jen. If you have a lighting circuit nearby, certainly investigate this. However, if you are going to get an electrician to do the work; you might just as well put in a p/p!!! PJ. |
Poppa John (284) | ||
| 742399 | 2009-01-27 08:18:00 | Thanks for the advice everyone. Yeah, I had thought about putting in another telephone jack closer to a power point, but that will still involve rewiring via ceiling or floor space and I would make a hash of it anyway. :p I don't think the folks would be too happy with having the phone power permanently wired into the wall. I was going to do it as a surprise while they are away, but this is probably best done now via their consultation for a preference for a new telephone jack or new power point. Cheers, Jen |
Jen (38) | ||
| 742400 | 2009-01-27 08:43:00 | It would be easier to install a phone jack near the power outlet, you could do it yourself. Much more sensible and cheaper! While wiring a new power point may be impossible for you, wiring a phone jack is easy. You can buy one at DSE or somewhere similar. A small length of wire is all that is required. You can't wire it incorrectly if you follow the instructions and there are no dangerous voltages to worry about (50v DC and 80v AC.) There would be no rewiring, you simply run your extension cable into the nearest jackpoint and run the wire to your new one. I can't see how a clever person such as yourself could make a hash of something so simple. |
Roscoe (6288) | ||
| 742401 | 2009-01-27 08:48:00 | Can you run a telephone extension wire to the power outlet?? | jwil1 (65) | ||
| 742402 | 2009-01-27 18:10:00 | The plug socket would be on a 10 amp circuit (lighting, 1.00mm), and therefore the cabling is still protected by the circuit breaker for that circuit.I have done this for plugin lamps and a phone.The owners understand that if they plug in a heater ,etc ,that the circuit breaker would trip. Power sockets are only rated at 10 amps anyhow. |
Neil McC (178) | ||
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